South Korea spends $140m on Sidewinder and Maverick missiles

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved a request by South Korea to purchase AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder and AGM-65G-2 Maverick missiles.

The Government of the Republic of South Korea has requested a possible sale of eighty-nine AGM-65G-2 Maverick missiles and sixty AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II All-up-Round Missiles as well as containers, spares and missile support, US Government and contractor technical assistance, and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost is $140 million according to the DSCA.

“This proposed sale contributes to the foreign policy and national security of the United States. The ROK is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in the region. It is vital to U.S. national interests to assist our Korean ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

This sale increases the ROK’s capability to participate in Pacific regional security operations and improves its national security posture as a key U.S. ally.

The proposed sale will improve the ROK’s capability to meet current and future threats. The ROK will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.”